Cordially, Yours!

-19-

Before we start off, I would like to thank all of you for making the story such a memorable experience. 

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The morning broke in through the hospital window and crepped into Navya's ward. Abir's cry broke into the silence of the room and Navya got up to cradle him. She lulled him back to sleep and caressed her hand on his face. She was in deep thoughts since yesterday and they were up to eat her again. Somewhere, Cabir's childish rant had set in her heart and worried her. His words were truthful. Carrying the child was easy, but to nurse him, teach him, pay for his health and eventually for education - it was a big daunting task, especially with her still being in her 3rd year of college, with no stable job or financial support or a proper house. After all, how long would she stick and depend on Cabir? He had his own life, his own problems and privacy to take care of. She and now, even her child couldn't just stick to him like a leech. Well, her options, she thought of again, were still a miser two- first, to give Abir for adoption or foster care; or secondly, stick with her plans and take care of him what ever it took. She hadn't made peace with first idea yet and so, by default the scary second idea had to be stuck to. She loved Abir to death but the thought of raising her up it freaked her out. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the two gossiping nurses who came in her ward. 

"It's the worst news anyone could wake upto!"

"It's our job somewhere, and I have been here for so long, and yet, it breaks my heart to see this."

Their chatter paused when they saw Navya looking at them with curious eyes. "How are you this morning dear?" one of the nurses wore a smile and greeted her while the other started to arrange the medical supplies and check on Abir. 

"Very well. Aap log bura nah mano toh, ek baat puchoon?" she questioned hesitantly. 

"Hann baba, pucho nah? Kuch chahiye?" the nurse sweetly asked. 

"Nahi, sab hi yaahan. Par, aap log abhi kya baat kar rahe the?" Navya sweetly smiled.

"Hum.." the nurses exchanged worried glances."Ese doosre cases ke baare mein discuss karna patients se mana hi, but, since you ask... The family next door, they came in yesterday with a soon-to-be mother in labor. Unfortunately, she lost her child due to her weakness and complications in the pregnancy." Navya's face flushed and her mind raced into deep thoughts. The nurse worriedly looked at her drained face and kept her hand on her shoulder and cajoled, "Beta, tum thik ho? Dekho, esa hota hi. It's so wonderful you have this little charm all safe and sound in your arms. It's God's will, bacha, don't stress."

 "Don't worry. I am fine. Could I meet them by any chance?" Navya assured them with a smile but, her sadness still seeped through her eyes. 

"Umm.." the nurses replied unsure to give the permission of a new mother to meet a freshly wounded "had-to-be-mother". 

--Dehradun--

The night had sublimed and the sun rays danced through Nandini's room, but the blankness in her eyes did leave. Sleep had been far-away from her all through out the night. She spent her night star-gazing from the balcony with a boo in her hand. She did feel that she had dozed off now and then, but a sudden thought of Manik and Dhruv's voice awoke her to muffled cries. Since the past few days, she fought with herself to decipher if her decision to leave Manik was right or if the move been made, would she be in his arms curled up tonight? On the same time, her alter-ego debated that now or later, they would have been in a bad-situation seeing that Manik didn't stop her and let her go then. Her voices choked herself when suddenly a knock on the door followed by Abhi's voice spoke volumes of support.  

"Babydoll! Open the door." Abhi said across the wall. "Dude, this isn't fair. I hadn't have a good-night sleep all alone in that room. Could we share the room?" he stomped into the room as soon as Nandini unlatched the door. Seeing his cute frown and a pillow in his hand, Nandini couldn't help but smile at him and nod in agreement. He climbed onto the bed and nestled in between the blankets.

"Hey, come on in! I can't sleep without my mom, I need someone besides." he cribbed. 

Nandini frowned and said, "Abhi, it's 7! You go to sleep, I'll roam around the city and be back."

"That's tyranny! You can't enjoy without me. You are bound to stay with me in this new place. Anyways, I can't afford to loose a kid and have sniffles while running around retracing the path she took!" Abhi stated. 

"What do you mean? Wait, did you just call me a kid!" Nandini pouted and smacked a pillow in his direction. Abhi tumbled down the bed and grabbed a pillow and threw it back at her. The pillow fight was on and somewhere among the feathers that floated around them, Nandini's gray thoughts mellowed into white. 

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Hey, 

Since I have nothing new to write, cliche questions: What do you think about this new-found relation between Nandini and Abhi? Also, what do you think about Navya's track?

Happy Reading! 

Love, 

HF